Russian premier Putin's popularity sinks in wake of mass protests

Jan 10, 2012, 15:48 GMT

Moscow - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's popularity has taken a substantial hit in the wake of recent anti-government protests, according to the results of a national poll made public on Tuesday.

About 38 per cent of Russians currently consider Putin the leading politician in the country, a drop of 17 points from the support he enjoyed in the middle of 2011, a report from the state-run Vziom research institute said.

President Dmitry Medvedev, Putin's close political ally, at present has only 19-per-cent support, a reduction of 18 points from the popularity he enjoyed in 2011, survey results published on the institute's website said.

Putin is running to succeed Medvedev as president, in elections scheduled for March 4. A former KGB agent, Putin served two terms as president from 2000-08.

Russia witnessed massive anti-government demonstrations in December following parliamentary elections won by United Russia, the political party that Putin and Medvedev lead.

Opposition leaders alleged that the result, which continued United Russia's dominance of the national legislature, was fraudulent.

Between 30,000 to 120,000 people took to Moscow's streets in December 24 demonstrations against the alleged vote fraud, with smaller protests in dozens of other cities.

Opposition organizers are planning another sanctioned anti-government demonstration in Moscow on February 4, with as many as 50,000 participants, the Interfax news agency reported.

The state-run Izvestiya newspaper on Tuesday reported that Putin would, by mid-February, make public a 'new view' campaign platform focusing on stimulating local economies and reducing the effects of alcoholism, violent crime and corruption.

Putin historically has given top priority to government support to major corporations, large-scale infrastructure development projects and building up the military.